You must be Born Again

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John3:3

Entering the Kingdom (Being Born Again = salvation) is accomplished by the power of God - outside yourself. It is the work of God.

"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:24-27

Salvation is a cleansing that comes from God who sends the Holy Spirit to indwell your heart and give you new life. It produces a changed heart and mind that desires to obey and follow God. If that change has not taken place then there is no new life.

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36


Christ is not something you can just add to your life.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:1-5

Christ must take preeminence in your life. It means preferring obeying, serving, and loving God more than anything this world has to offer.

What is the standard of “good”?

It’s not being better than someone else. It’s not avoiding a certain severity of sin (I’m not as bad as they guy on death row). Most people have the wrong standard. They somehow think God is like them in judging what is good and bad. Since God is God its not what we think His standard is, but it is what He has declared the standard of “good” to be. By looking at God’s Law we can see the standard by which “good” is judged.

The Law is a tutor that brings us to Christ.

Have to ever come to an end of yourself? Realizing there is no way you can save yourself. You can never be “good enough”. Self righteousness and self justification must die. All you can do is cry out for mercy from God. By trusting in what Christ did and ceasing to trust in what you can do.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, Then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:21-25

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Galatians 5:13-14

Have you ever come to the point where you understand the utter wickedness of your own heart and the pure holiness of God? Do you understand that there is nothing you can do to save yourself? You can never be good enough. Do you understand that the only thing you deserve is judgment and Hell? Can you see honestly into your own heart and motivations? The love spoken of here comes only from God. It is not motivated for what you get out of it. It is not self-centered. It can only be accomplished by the empowerment of His Holy Spirit.

One last thought about the “called out ones”

Is your life characterized by righteousness that flows from the Spirit of God within? A life that is characterized by sin (lawlessness) will not come to a godly end.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

What is the CHURCH?

Let’s first look at what the church is not.

It is not a building
It is not an organization
It is not a membership list
It is not biased against any race
It is not to confined to one generation
It is not exclusive to any one denomination

Then just what is the CHURCH?

The word that is translated “CHURCH” is “Ekklesia” (this is the transliterated Greek word). This is a compound word from ek (out of, from, by, away from) and Kaleo (to call). Literally this could be read as “one who has been called out away from.” Who are these called out ones? What are they called out away from? How can you tell who these called out ones are?

As we work our way through these questions we will be considering what it means to be a follower of Christ. There are many terms used to describe a disciple of Christ such as Born Again, Converted, Regenerated, Believer, Christian and Born Again Believer. Many of these terms are used very loosely today and have many different meanings to different groups. We need to understand these terms in light of the biblical definition of what it means to be a true follower of Christ.

Next time we will start going through what it means to be one of those called out to follow Christ.

2 Corintians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord." AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18"And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

Love in the Church

There is a serious undercurrent flowing through most “churches” (I will examine what scripture says the church really is later) today. It isn’t spoken about or even acknowledged as being a problem in most places. Yet it is given lip service and programs, but there is no heart in it. This item is of the utmost importance to those who would follow Christ with their whole heart.

I am talking about loving one another.

34"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Most people that call themselves by the name of Christ do not seem to have time for the brethren - even within their own congregations. People travel to the church building – take in a message or two and some songs – rush back to their own little worlds, having little or no time for others.

Why does the “church” need to publish a prayer request list? It is most people are unconcerned and uninvolved in the each other’s life. If they were the members of the body would know and be ministering to those needs. These burdens would be shared and known by someone other than "church" staff members (I will go more into that in the future).

I have heard it said recently, “Isn’t it amazing how most people can only love those who are as lovely as themselves.” So many congregations and denominations think that they have the ONLY doctrine or version or gifting, while all along missing the heart of Christ’s command to love the brethren. These individuals and groups have a tendency to look upon others with different veiws as lesser, inferior “Christians” or even as unsaved.

I am not speaking of ecumenicalism where any belief is as good as another (many ways to heaven approach). No, there is only one true salvation. It is found only in Christ through faith. What Bible version a person uses is not essential to salvation – nor is the method of baptism – or how often communion is observed - whether wine or grape juice is used. I certainly have my thoughts on each of these areas, but we must allow others to have their’s thoughts as well. We can discuss these differences while not shunning those that think differently. Each of us should diligently search scripture for a proper understanding of God’s commands and conform to His word as He gives us understanding to apply scriptural truthes to our lives.

We worry so much about these details of doctrines while we fail to OBEY what we already KNOW to do!

I must also take a look at myself. Have I shown true love the brethren? Have I been harsh and legalistic? Surely as a live I have been found guilty in my heart, at various times, of each of these. Please take the time to examine your own heart.

If each one of us truly has a heart that desires more than anything else to please God, then even in those areas where we disagree will eventually be set right. In the meantime let us give each other the freedom in Christ to grow and mature while not lacking in spurring one another on in the faith. Let us love in humility and take care to ensure we have pure motives.

One last thought about love – Love is giving someone what they need – not necessarily what they want.

(Next time I will share my thoughts on what the church is and what it is not)